Jonas Lööw at Sweden's Rockbladet recently caught up with AMARANTHE vocalist Elize Ryd, also known for her work with KAMELOT as a backing vocalist. An excerpt from the interview is available below:
Photo by Amalie Stepperud Antonsen

Jonas: Do you still manage to combine these two things, (musical performance) and musical career playing in bands?

Elize: "Absolutely, I'm doing my best. I work with the band Kamelot for the fourth year in a row now, and their music is very inspired by musicals. Each album is based on a unique story, and my job is to illustrate the different characters in it. I stand for the theatricals and visuals in their show. It feels really great to have an outlet for my theater, and sometimes even dancing skills there. I work to the extent that I have time to show different projects where I sing, do back-up singing and dancing behind both Swedish and international artists."

Jonas: I've read that you were one of the candidates to replace Tarja Turunen in NIGHTWISH, what happened?

Elite: "Yes, it went pretty well for me during that tryout. It was Jake and Olof who did send in the application on behalf of me. I had no idea who Nightwish were when I wasn’t a part of the industry (laughing). I was way too young and because of my lack of experience, they did choose Anette Olzon instead. Olof promised me that he would start a new band and that I could be the lead singer, and that made me really happy of course (laughing). About a month ago, I did perform with the band in Denver during the support tour with Kamelot in the US, when the singer got acutely ill."

Click here for the complete interview

As previously reported, on Friday, September 28th Nightwish took the stage at the Ogden Theatre in Denver, CO without vocalist Anette Olzon, who was hospitalized due to illness. Ryd and Alissa White-Gluz (THE AGONIST) stepped in to fill Olzon's role alongside bassist/male singer Marco Hietala. Fan-filmed video is available below:

Japan’s DIR EN GREY will release their new single, ‘Rinkaku’, on December 19th. A teaser can be heard below:
According to a press release, "the track is unlike anything you have heard before, almost overturning the band's musical concept on a new scale, coming in with a range full of depth with Kyo's vocals that evoke classical elements in this beautiful and intricate melodic track which builds up dramatically with the intertwining guitars and bass. 'Rinkaku' mixed by an internationally acclaimed engineer has turned out to be an inimitable track with an intense sound."

'Rinkaku' will be released as a limited order-only deluxe version, initial limited version, and original version. Artwork for the single can be seen below:
The initial limited version will feature a bonus DVD featuring scenes from the recording of 'Rinkaku'.

The limited order-only deluxe version features a bonus DVD featuring scenes from the recording of 'Rinkaku' and the band's November 11th, 2011 concert at Tokyo Dome City Hall.

The tracklisting is as follows:

'Amon'
'Lotus'
'Obscure'
'Ruten No Tou'
'Akatsuki'
'Hageshisa To, Kono Mune No Naka De Karamitsuita Shakunetsu No Yami'
'The Blossoming Beelzebub'
'Mazohyst Of Decadence'
'Tsumi To Batsu'
'Yokusou Ni Dreambox Aruiwa Seijuku No Rinen To Tsumetai Ame'
'Different Sense'
'Decayed Crow'
'Rinkaku' (Scenes From Recording)

Just in time for the start of GOTTHARD's Swiss tour, and on the last part of their successful Firebirth world tour 2012, the band heat things up with 'Give Me Real' their new fan video.

What usually requires long days of shooting with countless takes was made in Chile in an afternoon "First Take". The result is pure emotion! Like hardly any other clip it captures the magic between the band, fans and live performance.

The video was shot spontaneously at the start of the tour during the sound check. It was only the second show with singer Nic Maeder and is the fastest video shoot of the band's history. The director from South America only needed one run-through. The film was shot in Chile, home of creative TV talent. In addition to the band, two known South American actors can be seen, the only 25-year-old Leon Bravo and the 24-year-old Paula Pardo.
"We were immediately enthusiastic about the idea when the director came up with the idea of making the clip on tour in Chile", says bassist Marc Lynn. "We were all curious to shoot in South Amer ica and to work with a local team. Also the fact that we were on tour and did not have two whole days as usual for a video shoot but only a few hours in the afternoon, was an exciting challenge. We got to know a lot from the people there and their sweeping, spirited way of working. "

The clip can be seen below:
Upcoming Swiss dates include:

November
30 - Chur, Switzerland - Stadthalle

December
1 - Bern, Switzerland - Expo Halle 4.1.
6 - Lausanne, Switzerland - Metropole
7 - Winterthur, Switzerland - Eishalle Deutweg
8 - Sursee, Switzerland - Stadthalle

Gotthard are confirmed for 70000 Tons Of Metal 2013. The World's Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise will sail Monday, January 28th, 2013 aboard the Royal Caribbean Majesty Of The Seas from Miami, FL to Cockburn Town on Grand Turk Island, and will not return to the real world for four days until Friday, February 1st.
The following 23 out of 40 bands have now been announced: ANACRUSIS, ANGRA, DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER, DORO, DRAGONFORCE, ENSIFERUM, EVERGREY, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, GOTTHARD, HELLOWEEN, HELSTAR, IMMOLATION, IN FLAMES, KREATOR, LACUNA COIL, METAL CHURCH, NILE, RAGE and LINGUA MORTIS ORCHESTRA, SABATON, SUBWAY TO SALLY, TIAMAT, TURISAS, TÝR, UNEXPECT.

Ticket prices start at US$666 plus US$299 taxes and fees per person and include all on-board entertainment, non-alcoholic and non-carbonated beverages, all meals at the dining rooms, most on-board restaurants and even 24 hour room service!

What are you waiting for? You might even need a vacation from this vacation when all is said and done! Check out 70000tons.com for more information.

German death metallers DESERTED FEAR have released a video for the song 'Field Of Death', featured on their new album, My Empire, released on September 28th in Germany and October 1st worldwide via FDA Rekotz. Watch the new clip below:
My Empire was mixed and mastered by DAN SWANÖ (ex-EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE) at Unisound Studio.
Tracklisting is as follows:

‘Intro’
‘The Battalion Of Insanities’
‘Pestilential’
‘Nocturnal Frags’
‘Morbid Infection’
‘The Black Incantation’
‘Scene Of Crime’
‘Field Of Death’
‘My Empire’
‘Bury Your Dead’

A promo video for My Empire can be seen below:

German metallers EISREGEN will release their new two disc compilation entitled Krebskollektion, on December 7th via Massacre Records.

The band have now released a video for a cover of FALCO’s ‘Mutter Der Mann Mit Dem Koks Ist Da’, off the new album. Check it out below:
Krebskollektion features rare tracks from 1998-2004 on the first CD and seven new/unreleased recordings on the second.

The album will be available in three different formats: as standard two CD version for a special price, as a limited, numbered and embossed two CD digipak version and as a limited and numbered double vinyl LP in gate-fold cover (limited to 500 units).
Tracklisting is as follows:

CD 1:

‘Vorabend Der Schlacht’
‘Scharlachrotes Kleid’
‘Für Euch Die Ihr Lebt’
‘Das Kleine Leben’
‘Abglanz Vom Licht’
‘Thüringen’
‘Vorboten’
‘Angst Wird Fleisch’
‘Schatten Im Verstand’
‘Ein Jahr Im Leben Des Todes’
‘Mein Eichensarg’
‘Blutgeil’
‘Glas’

CD 2:

‘Brut’
‘Mutter, Der Mann Mit Dem Koks Ist Da’ (FALCO cover)
‘Fleischhaus 2012’
‘Engelmacher’
‘Scharlachrotes Kleid 2012’
‘Born Dead’
‘Blutgeil’ (live)

Power trio SUBJEKTIVE have announced the release of their self-titled debut album via Alliance entertainment/RDM Entertainment.

According to a press release: “The band has even coined its own name for the particular style of music they play: rock driven metal. It's the perfect description of music that is both a melodious form of metal combined with a powerful, in-your-face attitude.”
Tracklisting is as follows:

‘Veins’
‘R.D.M’
‘Too Far Gone’ ‘
‘Mental’
‘Your World Will End’
‘Watch This Space’
‘Round 1’
‘Coward’
‘Split From One Source’
‘Shattered (Wasted)’

The track ‘Round 1’ can be heard below:

Belgian progressive death metallers IN-QUEST have inked a deal with the metal band management agency Morbid Management.

Commented In-Quest guitarist Douglas Verhoeven: “We are very happy with this news. We can't wait to release our new material!"

Stated Morbid Management band manager Willem Van Maele: “I’m honored to announce that from now on I will be representing In-Quest. When I discovered metal I visited In-Quest gigs on a monthly basis, working with them is a huge chance for me!"

In-Quest is currently in the studio recording their eigth album. The follow-up to 2009’s Made Out of Negative Matter is being recorded at Split Second Sound studio with producer Jochem Jacobs (TEXTURES).

In-Quest is:

MiQe Löfberg – Vocals
Douglas Verhoeven – Leads
Gert Monden – Drums
Korre Lauwereins – Rhythms
Frederick Peeters - Bass
More on In-Quest at this location.

WHITESNAKE recently launched WSTV, described as "an audio-visual treat". The newest episode is now online, and features David Coverdale answering fan questions, Part 7. Check it out below:
Part 1 - 6 of the Q&A with Coverdale can be seen below:
JOURNEY and Whitesnake, along with special guests THUNDER, are set to appear onstage together for the first time ever in May 2013, taking in eight dates across the UK. Tickets are on sale now via Livenation.co.uk or Ticketmaster.co.uk.

Journey's Neal Schon said of the tour: "Looking forward to getting back to the UK and playing our best for you all. You guys are the very best, cheers and see you soon. We will be rocking!"
Meanwhile Whitesnake say they're back with a vengeance in 2013, with plans to release a live DVD ahead of the tour as well as a double album. "Unfinished business..." as Coverdale says slyly. "We all wanted the last tour to continue as we got closer to the end...After a year in the studio we're ready to rock on stage again...We're coming back for more..."
Special guests Thunder will also be joining the UK dates. Singer Danny Bowes says: "We'd already discussed possibly doing some shows next year, so this is perfect, and it's a great bill, like they used to be back in the day, it'll be a brilliant night out".

Journey, Whitesnake and Thunder UK live dates:

May
18 - Glasgow SECC - Glasgow, UK
20 - Motorpoint Arena - Sheffield, UK
22 - Metro Radio Arena - Newcastle, UK
23 - Manchester Arena - Manchester, UK
25 - Capital FM Arena - Nottingham, UK
26 - Motorpoint Arena - Cardiff, UK
28 - LG Arena - Birmingham, UK
29 - Wembley Arena - London, UK

Germany's CORONATUS will release a digital compilation just in time for Christmas. Best Of 2007-2011 will be available December 21st via Massacre Records at iTunes and Amazon. It will feature the top 16 songs from all of Coronatus' albums. The tracklisting is as follows:
'Fernes Land'
'Dead Man's Tale'
'Saint Slayer'
'Traumzeit'
'Wolfstanz'
'Tantalos'
'Kristallklares Wasser'
'Blind'
'Exitus'
'Cast My Spell'
'Mein Herz'
'Beauty In Black'
'Silberlicht'
'Scream Of The Butterfly'
'Ich Atme Zeit'
'Hot & Cold'

Sound snippets can be heard at this location.

Rhode Island-based rockers DREAMER announce the release of their debut album, Turn It Up. The album features ten tracks filled with razor-sharp hooks, radio friendly melodies and a heavy metal wallop that can satisfy the most demanding headbanger.
Inspired by bands ranging from the classic hard rock bands (KISS, LED ZEPPELIN, QUEEN) to modern hardcore and metal (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, PANTERA, SENSES FAIL), Dreamer captures the sound of classic metal and infuses it with a style and sound all their own. Renowned for their high energy live shows at venues across New England, the band has opened for bands such as ALL THAT REMAINS, BURN HALO, CANDLEBOX, FIREWIND, HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS, HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD, LYNCH MOB, SALIVA and SAVING ABEL. Dreamer are booking shows to support their album and are on a mission to deliver Turn It Up to audiences and radio stations across the US.
Turn It Up tracklisting:

'Way It Feels'
'Live For Today'
'Lost Without You'
'Last Goodbye'
'Cry'
'On The Run'
'Over Time'
'Dream'
'Sex Rocks'
'Turn It Up'

Listen to the album below:

Turn It Up by Dreamer

Dreamer is:

Christian Shields - Lead Vocals/Guitar
Nathan Shields - Drums/Vocals
Jake Bizarre - Lead Guitar/Vocals
Nathan Andreadi - Bass/Vocals.

More on Dreamer at this location.

Italy's Southern hard rock act TOMBSTONE HIGHWAY is to release a debut studio album entitled Ruralizer on February 26th in Europe and March 19th in the US on Agonia Records.

According to a press release, the band is a classic blend of feisty stoner/southern rock and doom metal, with catchy guitar solos and old-school heavy metal parts that may remind of LYNYRD SKYNYRD, CORRISON OF CONFORMITY, PRIDE AND GLORY, DOWN, BLACK SABBATH, or even ZZ TOP riffage. The band even uses also a banjo and Hammond organs.
Ruralizer will consist of eight original songs and a cover of MOUNTAIN's 'Mississippi Queen' with a playing time of almost 50 minutes and will be made available on Digipack CD and digital download. It was recorded at Elfo Studios by Daniele Mandelli who is also in charge of mix and mastering.

The band commented: "We're very proud of how the album came out and we strongly believe it's the perfect way to begin our legacy. People into heavy, ballsy southern-tinged Hard Rock should take note!"

Three songs from Ruralizer can be heard Tombstone Highway's Reverb Nation profile here.

Ruralizer tracklist:
'Old Blood'
'Acid Overlord'
'Graveyard Blues'
'Hellfire Rodeo'
'Ruralizer'
'Bite The Dust (And Bleed)'
'At The Bitter End'
'Mississippi Queen'
'Hangman's Friend'

For more details on Tombstone Highway visit Facebook .

Dark metallers AETERNUS, have announced the addition of new session bassist Eld from Krakow and Vithr, Norway. Eld joins the band for their upcoming shows in February.
Details for the upcoming shows will be announced soon.

Aeternus were recently confirmed for Oslo, Norway's Inferno Festival which is being held at the venues Rockefeller, John Dee, Rock In, Blå, Unholy, Victoria and Revolver from March 27-30th, 2013.
Thus far, the Inferno 2013 lineup includes: AETERNUS, BEHEXEN, DARK FRUNERAL, DISKORD, HADES ALMIGHTY, IN VAIN, PURIFIED IN BLOOD, SATYRICON, SOLEFALD, TAAKE.

For more details visit Infernofestival.net.

California rockers BUCKCHERRY will release "Gluttony", the first single from their forthcoming sixth studio album, "Confessions", on December 11 via iTunes.

In other news, BUCKCHERRY will join KID ROCK as special guests on the upcoming "Rebel Soul" tour beginning February 2 in Kansas City, Missouri.

"'Great American rock and roll': KID ROCK and BUCKCHERRY. That's all you have to say. The baddest rock 'n' roll tour with the American badass himself," says BUCKCHERRY vocalist Josh Todd.

"Confessions" will be BUCKCHERRY's first domestic release with new label Century Media Records. The CD is due in early 2013 on Century Media in the United States and via Eleven Seven Music in other parts of the world.

"Confessions" is an album based on the seven deadly sins, and is part of a larger vision that includes a film written by Josh Todd, who based the album's lyrics on his childhood and transformation into adulthood.

Asked about the reports that "Confessions" is a "concept" album, Nelson told PopCultureMadness.com, "Basically, it kind of started off as a concept record and then evolved away from that, so I wouldn't really call it a concept record right now. But it definitely has a theme to the record. And the record, it evolved into Josh writing a screenplay, basically, loosely based on some events of his life. So the story of the record goes with the film and the film goes with the record and they really work together. It tells a story."

He added, "The whole idea was to, basically, make the record stand alone on its own and the film stand alone on its own, but they could both come together and work really well together. And same thing with the songs — there isn't anything on the record that is so weird that you wouldn't understand it unless you saw the movie. So the record really needs to stand on its own, like every other record we've made."

Todd told an Oklahoma radio station about the "Confessions" screenplay, "It's based around the seven sins and true events that happened in my life as well, when I was younger."

Todd, however, shot down the idea of playing the lead role in the film, although he did say that the band will appear somewhere in it.

He added, "I think (the film is) gonna be a real treat for people who love this band and people who are just discovering BUCKCHERRY for the first time."

As for "Confessions", Todd said that the new disc is "definitely a heavier, musically, record than we've ever had, and more melodic. It's pretty intense, but everybody's gonna love it. It's quintessential BUCKCHERRY at the end of the day."

Swedish metallers ENFORCER will release their new album, "Death By Fire", on February 1, 2013 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD artwork was created by Jonathan Hultèn of Necromantic Art and can be seen below.

Commented ENFORCER vocalist/guitarist Olof Wikstrand: "[The art] captures pretty much everything we wanted from a cover. Simple and direct!"

"Death By Fire" track listing:

01. Bells Of Hades
02. Death Rides This Night
03. Run For Your Life
04. Mesmerized By Fire
05. Take Me Out Of This Nightmare
06. Crystal Suite
07. Sacrificed
08. Silent Hour / The Conjugation
09. Satan

ENFORCER will will hit the road with GRAND MAGUS and the NWOBHM legends ANGEL WITCH in February.

ENFORCER's second album, "Diamonds", was released in May 2010 in Europe by Earache Records and in the rest of the world through Heavy Artillery.

Having released its debut album, "Into the Night", in November 2008, ENFORCER kicked open the floodgates for the return of traditional heavy metal, paving the way for many other young bands to follow. With critical acclaim pouring in from fans and the international music press, ENFORCER wasted no time taking their show to the road for their first European and American tours as well as a litany of appearances at many of Europe's most highly regarded festivals.

Southern Germany-based melodic thrash metal sextet LARCENY will release its debut album, "My Fall", in early 2013 via SAOL (Service For Artist Owned Labels). The CD was recorded at R.E.D. studios with producer Achim Lindermair.

According to a press release, LARCENY has " a lot of different influences, like death, black and thrash metal, but also metalcore, which seems to be an interesting mix."

Comments the band: "We are seeing an influence from all sorts of styles of metal music (and occasionally even beyond metal) which at times makes things complicated. Yet there is a special type of harmony between us. We would never stop rehearsals before we are sure that we feel really good about our songs."

LARCENY is:

Anna Rantou - Vocals
Oliver Gaupp - Vocals, Guitar
Andreas Augat - Lead Guitar
Conny Ott - Keyboards
Lukas Frankenhauser - Bass
Dennis Siebert - Drums

Virginia-based melodic tech-death metal masters ARSIS will make a new EP, "Lepers Caress", available for free download tomorrow (Tueaday, December 4) via Scion Audio/Visual (a.k.a. Scion A/V), the in-house record label and lifestyle marketing division of the Scion marque produced by Toyota Motor Corporation for the North American market.

"The EP was put together quickly after we finished [the forthcoming ARSIS full-length album] 'Unwelcome'," said ARSIS bassist Noah Martin, "It gave us the opportunity to offer a brief statement of where our heads are at the moment. We revisited some of the oldest material in the ARSIS catalog as well as re-tracked a song off the upcoming full-length. Expect more three and four-part writing, thrash and blasts, and a string quartet arranged for a full band."

A brand new ARSIS song, "Six Coffins Wide", taken from the "Lepers Caress" EP, can be streamed below (courtesy of GuitarWorld.com).

Scion A/V will also sponsor a brief North American tour that will see ARSIS hit 15 cities this December, starting with a December 6 show at New York City's Gramercy Theater.

ARSIS recently recruited Brandon Ellis as the band's new guitarist. Brandon has toured with the group in the past but will finally make his recording debut on ARSIS' upcoming full-length release. He replaces guitarist Nick Cordle, who was recently tapped to replace Christopher Amott in the Swedish/German extreme metal act ARCH ENEMY.

ARSIS's 2010 album, "Starve For The Devil" (Nuclear Blast Records), sold 1,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release, landing at No. 13 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart.

When THE CULT frontman Ian Astbury had the idea for SALEM to remix a song off THE CULT's new release, "Choice Of Weapon", he reached out to SALEM as an admirer, using an e-mail he found on and EP he had. The band responded and chose "Elemental Light", which resulted in an ethereal, beat-driven verison of the song. Ian then called in the cinematic prowess of director/acclaimed fine artist Kostas Seremetis to create a visual element for the remix, and the result is more short film than music video.

"The sentiment of this film captures the loss of wilderness, and a generation trying to make sense of the trash heap they have inherited," Astbury says of the project. "It evokes nature versus man, that struggle [and] desire to control nature and ultimately death.”

The film recently premiered on IFC.com, and and can now be seen below.

THE CULT recently released a "prequel" to accompany "Choice Of Weapon". The digital-only release "Weapon Of Choice" reveals the songs at a stage of development that will be of interest to THE CULT's fans and followers. "Weapon Of Choice" is a document of a work in progress and offers a unique opportunity to hear THE CULT's process. The material had not been previously released, and is available exclusively on iTunes for two months only beginning October 16.

The ten tracks that comprise "Weapon Of Choice" were recorded when THE CULT returned to the studio in 2011 with producer Chris Goss. The songs were conceived in New York, Los Angeles, the California desert and the band's Witch Mountain studio.

After spending a very eventful and busy year 2012 promoting their latest album release, "Bilateral", Norwegian progsters LEPROUS have commenced the recording sessions for their as-yet-untitled new studio album, to be released in early 2013 via InsideOut Music.

Commented LEPROUS singer/synth player Einar Solberg: "As many of you already know, we’ve started recording our new album. The drums are finished, and we’re now focusing on the guitars. Also this time we’re using Vegard 'Ihsahn' Tveitan and Heidi 'StarOfAsh' S. Tveitan as our producers/technicians. The drums were recorded in the really cool and old school Juke Joint Studio, and we’re really satisfied with the result.

"As far as the new music, we can only remind you that LEPROUS will never be the kind of band to re-create the mood from previous works, and it’s very important for us that each album has its own strong character. We have great belief in this album and we promise something fresh, challenging and soulful! This album will also be mixed and mastered by Mr. Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios."

The first in a series of video clips featuring footage from the studio can be seen below.

After a successful run headlining the European Progressive Assault tour our all over Europe this past October, LEPROUS is not only already working on touring plans for 2013, but has also started confirming some prominent summer festival slots (Wacken Open Air, Hellfest, Tuska, etc.) as well as special international shows in countries like Serbia (making up for a cancelled show date on the past tour) as well as Israel in January.

New official merchandise based on the groundbreaking book "True Norwegian Black Metal" by Peter Beste along with the 208-page hardcover book will be available online at Forgotten Saints LA. The first items released will consist of shirts designed for Peter by Erik Danielsson of WATAIN. The shirts will feature exclusive images of Frost from SATYRICON and Ravn from the band 1349. Items will begin shipping on December 14.

American documentary photographer Peter Beste spent eight years working in the milieu of this insulated and secretive community. Beste's exclusive access and insight has resulted in an amazing photographic journey throughout the world of black metal.

Forgotten Saints has designed for artists including Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, IRON MAIDEN, Dee Snider, DIMMU BORGIR, Nikki Sixx, MÖTLEY CRÜE, GUNS N' ROSES, DJ Ashba, BLACK VEIL BRIDES and BUCKCHERRY. All of their items are 100% hand crafted and made in the U.S. The online store ships worldwide from their world renowned Melrose Avenue boutique, located in Hollywood, California.

For more information, check out www.forgottensaintsla.com.

KING DIAMOND has signed a new three-album worldwide deal with Metal Blade Records.

Commented the band's vocalist and namesake: "This is gonna be awesome! Another perfect piece of the puzzle. We have the full backup of Metal Blade, and there's an understanding between us that goes much, much deeper than before.

"Our new business setup will noticeably benefit the fans in so many ways. You must have already noticed some of all the cool new stuff that is happening. Now we can't wait to get out there and start touring again!"

After a six-year touring hiatus, KING DIAMOND triumphantly returned to the stage in 2012 for European festivals Hellfest and Sweden Rock.

In a March 2012 interview with the Swedish metal blog Bara Metal, King Diamond stated about what he did during his year-long break, "Well, we did keep up with people. A lot. We started a thing where… it's a Skype web site where people will sign up. And now and then I will call up fans and we talk. We have done that several times. We will call up three fans through that way, 'King Diamond is calling you,' and it could be one from Puerto Rico, one from Sweden, one from Scotland. We pick them randomly, but not the same person twice. Then we sit and talk for an hour. They can ask anything. They usually have a lot of question that are the same as the fans ask in the fan club, the Coven. So we get a lot of info out that way, and we upload it so other can listen to it. We are certainly in touch with our fans."

When asked if there are plans to release new music in 2013, King replied, "That is absolutely the plan. Something has to go totally wrong for us not to do that. We will write material this fall. Hopefully during the autumn, we might do something here in the U.S., after the festivals. But we will not be doing a long tour, it is still a test, we will see what happens. We do not want to take stupid chances, it has to be done properly. And we have a lot to do still, but things are looking good."

King, 56, underwent open-heart triple-bypass surgery in November 2010. He has since completed his cardiac rehabilitation program and has stopped smoking entirely, changed his diet and is getting regular exercise.

King Diamond made his long-anticipated return to the stage with his MERCYFUL FATE bandmates Hank Shermann, Timi Hansen and Michael Denner on December 7, 2011 at the second of four intimate shows at the Fillmore in San Francisco as part of METALLICA's week-long celebration of its 30th anniversary as a band for fan club members only.

KING DIAMOND received a Grammy nomination in the "Best Metal Performance" category for the track "Never Ending Hill" off the group's latest album, "Give Me Your Soul … Please".

"Give Me Your Soul ... Please" entered the Swedish national chart at position No. 28. The CD also landed at No. 58 on the Danish chart (the second highest new entry on the chart behind VELVET REVOLVER).

"Give Me Your Soul ... Please" sold 4,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 174 on The Billboard 200 chart.

According to the Czech news portal Novinky.cz, the State Attorney's Office in Prague, Czech Republic officially indicted LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe on a manslaughter charge Friday (November 30) related to the death of a fan in Prague two years ago. The court now has three months to set a date for the singer's trial or send the case back for further investigation.

Blythe is facing the possibility of conviction and a long-term jail sentence after a 2010 incident in which a fan attending a LAMB OF GOD show died almost a month later, allegedly from injuries sustained when he was thrown off the stage. Blythe's predicament has galvanized the heavy rock community, with artists across the hard rock genre pledging their support.

Shortly after being released from the Pankrác prison in Prague in early August, Blythe sat down with Mark Holmberg of WTVR-TV — the CBS television affiliate based in Richmond, Virginia — to discuss his 37-day stay at the notorious Czech Republic penitentiary (see video below).

Asked about his vow to go back to Prague if there is a trial, Randy said, "I feel ethically responsible to go back there and face this charge. [The victim's] family right now is in a lot of pain, and they deserve some answers. To lose a child is the worst possible thing a human can go through, I think .. I want my name cleared. I have to go around the world and tour, you know. That's what I do. I'm not going to hide here. I'm an innocent man. I'm going to go to court and see what happens."

Regarding what the "worst-case scenario" is if he returns to Prague for a trial, Blythe told Metal Hammer magazine, "Ten years with no time off for good behavior. For my particular charge — we're saying manslaughter, but it's assault in the fourth degree with intent, resulting in the death of this young man — the sentence for that is five to 10 years with no time off. So the worst-case scenario is that get out when I'm 51, 52 years old. It's not something I really try to dwell on too much, because it's scary. I don't want to go to prison, I don't want that to happen, but the fact of the matter is it could happen. I will deal with it as it comes, that's all! can do. If you have one foot in the past and one foot in the future, you're pissing on the present. And right now, all! have is the present so I prepare myself the best I can. My band is behind me and my family's behind me and we're gonna do our best to prove my innocence. But worrying about a nebulous uncertain future, or being super-bummed out that l went to prison for 37 days does me no good."

As BLABBERMOUTH.NET first reported last week, reactivated British extreme metal legends CARCASS are putting the finishing touches on their first studio album in 17 years with acclaimed producer Colin Richardson (FEAR FACTORY, MACHINE HEAD, NAPALM DEATH, SLIPKNOT, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE). The band has yet to secure a label home for the effort, which is expected in early 2013.

Guitarist Michael Amott and drummer Daniel Erlandsson, who have been touring with CARCASS since the band's reunion was announced in 2007, are no longer involved with the group due to scheduling conflicts with their main band, ARCH ENEMY. Joining guitarist Bill Steer and bassist/vocalist Jeff Walker in the studio for the new CD recording sessions is drummer Daniel Wilding (formerly of ABORTED). "For live, we'll obviously add another guitarist — we have someone in mind but we are not interested in a 'name' player," Walker tells Decibel magazine.

Regarding the sound of the forthcoming CARCASS album, Walker states: "We've taken stylistic cues from all the albums because it's in our blood, but it's no rehash or mess of ideas. I think it sounds almost like the missing link between the third and forth albums but with some groove in there. I've jokingly christened some parts 'trad blast' and some 'death sleaze'… don't think for a minute this is just some nostalgic throwback album — we're setting up another 17 years of ideas for other bands to copy and clean up on. [laughs]"

Asked if this means we'll be hearing some death metal vocals out of Bill for the first time since "Necroticism", Walker tells Decibel, "Yes, already in the can. It's more along the lines of how I envisioned him backing me up on 'Heartwork'. That said, my own vocals have a hell of a lot more range than they did in the past solely down to the luxury of having time to record them — I did all the vox for 'Heartwork' in two days and it shows! Also, (hopefully) [drummer] Ken [Owen] [who is not involved in the band's current reunion because he suffered a near-fatal brain hemorrhage in February 1999 and has had some rather serious health problems since then. — Ed.] will make an appearance — we just need to tidy a few loose ends before the mix."

CARCASS is in the process of booking a number of live shows for 2013, including appearances at next year's Maryland Deathfest and Chile's Metal Fest.

CARCASS' last album, 1996's "Swansong", was re-released in July 2008 via Earache Records. The reissue came fully remastered on a DualDisc (combined CD and DVD) in a deluxe digipak with extra artwork and a free sticker sheet featuring exclusive CARCASS designs, and included part 5 of a mini-documentary series entitled "The Pathologist's Report" as bonus video material, plus an exclusive bonus track, "Deathrider Da".

On December 10, METALLICA will release a live DVD called "Quebec Magnetic" through the band's newly launched Blackened Recordings label. The double DVD and single disc Blu-ray will be available for a price a "very METALLICA fan-friendly" price — suggested retail will be $15.98 for either format. Filmed by Wayne Isham during a two-night stand in October of 2009 in Quebec City, it will be METALLICA's first self-released project. "We just played two really phenomenal shows. They were outrageously great and the audience was great and we had a bunch of people filming it," METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett told Billboard.com. "We felt like we're really doing a disservice just sitting on this great live footage, so we decided to put it out."

"Quebec Magnetic" track listing:

01. That Was Just Your Life
02. The End Of The Line
03. The Four Horsemen
04. The Shortest Straw
05. One
06. Broken, Beat & Scarred
07. My Apocalypse
08. Sad But True
09. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
10. The Judas Kiss
11. The Day That Never Comes
12. Master Of Puppets
13. Battery
14. Nothing Else Matters
15. Enter Sandman
16. Killing Time
17. Whiplash
18. Seek & Destroy

Bonus songs:

19. For Whom The Bell Tolls
20. Holier Than Thou
21. Cyanide
22. Turn The Page
23. All Nightmare Long
24. Damage, Inc.
25. Breadfan
26. Phantom Lord

The "The Day That Never Comes" performance clip from "Quebec Magnetic" can be seen below.

Wayne Isham, 54, is an American movie director who has directed music videos of many popular artists such as MÖTLEY CRÜE, SIMPLE PLAN, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, PANTERA, 'N SYNC, SHANIA TWAIN, GODSMACK, BRITNEY SPEARS, LEONA LEWIS, PINK FLOYD, SHERYL CROW, JOSS STONE, MADONNA, AVRIL LAVIGNE, DEF LEPPARD and BON JOVI, among others.

Previous METALLICA videos that were directed by Wayne Isham:

* "Enter Sandman"
* "Wherever I May Roam"
* "Sad But True"
* "Fuel"
* "No Leaf Clover"
* "Nothing Else Matters" (from "S&M")
* "I Disappear"
* "Frantic"
* "Broken, Beat And Scarred"

METALLICA announced on Friday (November 30) that it has taken ownership of all the band's master recordings and long-form videos under a provision of the band's 1994 joint venture agreement with the Warner Music Group. According to that provision — almost unheard of for acts signed to major label contracts — all the masters reverted back to the band as of Friday. Frontman James Hetfield said in a statement, "We would like to thank everyone at the Warner Music Group for 28 years of a fantastic relationship, particularly since 1994 where we truly felt we had partners in every aspect of our business in North America."

The band has also revealed that it is launching its own label, called Blackened Recordings, that will be the new home for all of their recordings and videos, as well as anything else that the band may come up with. All marketing and promotion will be handled by Blackened, with distribution through Rhino Entertainment in North America and the Universal Music Group internationally. Drummer Lars Ulrich said, "Forming Blackened Recordings is the ultimate in independence, giving us 100 percent control and putting us in the driver's seat of our own creative destiny."

Ulrich told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that METALLICA was long past the point where the band needed a corporate record label to support it. "The great thing about being in a band like us is that we're in a position to bypass the record company," he said. "Basically record companies act like banks. And when you don't need the bank element of a record company, then you can kind of do it yourself."

METALLICA is also working on a 3D feature film for release next summer, as well as a new studio album that should surface in early 2014.

Progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER have re-signed with Roadrunner Records. The group first signed with Roadrunner in January 2007 and has so far released three critically acclaimed albums with the label. Roadrunner first issued DREAM THEATER's ninth studio album, "Systematic Chaos", in 2007 and went on to release "Black Clouds & Silver Linings" in 2009 as well as their most recent album, "A Dramatic Turn Of Events", in September 2011. The band will soon begin recording a new album as part of the new agreement with Roadrunner.

Commented the band : "We are all very excited to be re-signing with Roadrunner Records! Over the past five years from the release of 'Systematic Chaos' to our latest, 'A Dramatic Turn Of Events', we've developed strong creative and professional bonds with everyone at Roadrunner as well as many great friendships along the way."

The group added: "Roadrunner's dedication and commitment to DREAM THEATER has been evident to all of us from the very beginning, and is consistent in all departments and on all levels, right on through to the top. Roadrunner is a record label that is not only great at what they do but who truly understand what DREAM THEATER is all about as well as the amazing people who support us all around the world whom we proudly call our fans. They are a record company we relate to as an organization firmly rooted in its ideals and mission, while always pushing the envelope in an effort to keep things moving ever forward. We've reached many career defining milestones while at Roadrunner and are all incredibly pumped in anticipation of our continued future together!"

DREAM THEATER's August 19 and August 20 concerts at Estadio Luna Park in Buenos Aires, Argentina were professionally filmed and recorded for the band's next live DVD, to be released sometime next year.

DREAM THEATER's 11th studio album, "A Dramatic Turn Of Events", had 14 Top 10 debuts around the world. It also produced the band's first-ever Grammy nomination for "On The Backs Of Angels" in the "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" category.

"A Dramatic Turn Of Events", sold 36,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 8. The band's previous CD, 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings", opened with 40,000 units to land at No. 6. This was roughly in line with the first-week tally registered by its predecessor, "Systematic Chaos", which shifted 36,000 copies in 2007 to enter the chart at No. 19. 2005's "Octavarium" premiered with 27,000 copies to debut at No. 36.

Former SKID ROW vocalist Sebastian Bach is working on a brand new DVD/live CD package, "ABachalypse Now", for a spring 2013 release via Frontiers Records. The DVD/CD includes never-before-seen footage from this year's Graspop Metal Meeting in Dessel, Belgium, the full Hellfest set from France and the fully remixed and remastered Club Nokia show from Los Angeles (originally broadcast on AXS TV). The exact track listing and table of contents is forthcoming.

Commented Bach: "I am so excited for all of you to witness and experience 'ABachalypse Now'. We have included three recent concerts and the footage is totally kickass! It's remixed and remastered for full audio and video quality. The performances and energy of the crowds are killer throughout the DVD and you really feel like you are at the shows. Prepare yourselves for the coming ABachalypse — now!"

Bach in July posted a letter on his Facebook page in which he said he was willing to reunite with SKID ROW. "For the fans, I would be willing to put my ego aside and do something that would be special for the people who put us where we are today," he wrote. "I do not personally want it myself. But it's not always about 'what I want.' If the fans really want to see us together, I would do it for the fans. Sometimes you can do things for people other than yourself."

Bach said he wanted to write the letter in response to current SKID ROW singer Johnny Solinger's interview in which Johnny said a recent tweet by Bach about a possible SKID ROW reunion was an attempt to "get attention."

Bach's most recent solo album, "Kicking & Screaming", sold 6,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 73 on The Billboard 200 chart. The singer's previous CD, "Angel Down", opened with 6,400 units back in November 2007 to debut at No. 190.

"Make It Sick", the sophomore album from Perth Western, Australia-based hard rockers BABYJANE, is available at CDBaby.com. The CD's title track, which features a guest appearance by John Corabi, former lead singer of MÖTLEY CRÜE, THE SCREAM and UNION, was recorded with legendary producer Michael Wagener's (METALLICA, SKID ROW, OZZY OSBOURNE) Wireworld Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. The song can now be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

BABYJANE has thus far released one album, "Are You Listening?", which was mixed by Wagener in 2010.

BABYJANE is:

Andy Smith - Vocals, Guitar
John Gerasolo - Lead Guitars
Paul Judge - Bass, Vocals
Nik Kats - Drums

For more information, visit BABYJANE's web site, www.babyjane.com.au.

Currently putting the finishing touches to their second full length album, London's saviors of alternative metal THE DEFILED have released a video for the song "Blood Sells". Shot at London's Brixton Academy, the clip features footage from the band's set from the Jägermeister Music Tour.

Comments THE DEFILED frontman Stitch D: "When we got the call asking us to play at Brixton Academy as part of the Jägermeister Tour, we obviously jumped at the chance. Brixton has such a history and I've seen most of my favorite bands there and to get asked to play there on a bill including one of my childhood heroes THERAPY? as well as SKINDRED and BLACK SPIDERS was a dream come true. Obviously, we had to document it so we asked our good friend Aaron Shrimpton and his team to come and shoot it."

THE DEFILED will hit the road next March with GHOST and GOJIRA as part of the Jägermeister Music U.K. tour.

THE DEFILED's follow-up to last year's "Grave Times" album was funed by a campaign with Pledge Music. The recording sessions for the new CD took place at Audiohammer studios in Sanford, Florida with Jason Suecof, whose work with the likes of TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, CHIMAIRA, DEVILDRIVER and THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER has made him one of the most sought-after producers in metal.

Legendary rock band LED ZEPPELIN was awarded America's greatest cultural honor, the Kennedy Award, by President Barack Obama at The White House in Washington on Sunday, December 2. Also honored at the event were comedian and television personality David Letterman, bluesman Buddy Guy, actor and director Dustin Hoffman and ballerina Natalia Makarova.

LED ZEPPELIN was introduced by FOO FIGHTERS' Dave Grohl, who called the band "his teachers."

"When Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham burst onto the musical scene in the late 1960s, the world never saw it coming," Obama said in his tribute.

"There was this singer with a mane like a lion and a voice like a banshee, a guitar prodigy who left people’s jaws on the floor, a versatile bassist who was equally at home on the keyboards, a drummer who played like his life depended on it," he continued.

He added: "It’s been said that a generation of young people survived teenage angst with a pair of headphones and a ZEPPELIN album ... but even now, 32 years after John Bonham’s passing — and we all I think appreciate the fact — the ZEPPELIN legacy lives on."

The president then thanked band for behaving themselves at the White House given their history of "hotel rooms being trashed and mayhem all around."

He finished his speech, saying: "We honor LED ZEPPELIN for making us all feel young, and for showing us that some guys who are not completely youthful can still rock!"

You can watch video footage of Obama's tribute ebelow.